Air carrier Flight Attendant crew reported the simultaneous failure of the cabin electrical power and a fume event during cruise. After notifying the flight deck crew and communicating with Dispatch the flight was directed to continue to destination.
Synopsis
Air carrier Flight Attendant crew reported the simultaneous failure of the cabin electrical power and a fume event during cruise. After notifying the flight deck crew and communicating with Dispatch the flight was directed to continue to destination.
Narrative
Smelled almost like diarrhea. I thought someone just had bad gas throughout the whole flight. Was pretty consistent off and on throughout flight. Asked FA 4 but she could barely smell it and said maybe it was a Pax feet. But the Pax went back to their seat and smell was still present. Finally brought it to front FA's attention and they came back and said they believed it was stinky sock odor. They smelled the air vents in the galley and it was coming out of here. They had been stuck up front due to electrical going out in whole cabin. So they hadn't been back to the back the whole flight. I felt it was strong enough for so long that I traded spots with one of them so they could check it out in the back. They both confirmed they believed it was stinky sock odor. I have never experienced it so I did not know that it could smell like diarrhea. Maybe communicate that diarrhea smell could be it too. I was thinking it was just stinky socks smell. If electrical had been working; front crew would have confirmed it sooner and we may not have been exposed as long. If company would have had us go back due to the electrical issue we wouldn't have been exposed as long either.
Second reporter narrative
The flight crew that brought in our Aircraft; Aircraft ABC; said they lost power during flight coming back to ZZZ. Maintenance looked at the aircraft and signed it off saying it was ok to fly. They didn't take too much time looking at the aircraft or doing checks.Even though there were other aircraft there; since it was around XA:30pm; and planes were back for the evening; they still made us take this aircraft that had lost power. So we were about XX minutes into our flight heading all the way to ZZZ1 from ZZZ when we lost power. The cabin lights went out; and it was dark in the cabin; only the reading lights worked. We lost all communication via the interphone between the pilots and F/A's and the PA address system did not work to speak to the passengers. The smoke detectors did not work. The Lavatory call lights didn't work. There was a loud screeching noise over row XX which was very bothersome to the passengers so we had to move them from that row. Apparently it was the brake fan which may have been broken. We had to pound on the flight deck door to communicate with the pilots and scream through the door to communicate. Our Captain; contacted dispatch. Dispatch told the pilots they were to continue on. Captain informed Dispatch that we were very uncomfortable and we felt unsafe. The Dispatcher said he would get to back to us; that he would speak with the higher-ups" and see what they say. Meanwhile we could have landed in ZZZ2 that we passed right by or some other bases along the way. As time continued on and the Dispatcher was not expeditious in getting back to us; we were about X hours away from ZZZ1 when we were told that the decision was that we needed to continue on. They had no idea what the underlying problem was of why we lost this power. This was a careless; reckless; negligent and extremely dangerous decision made by someone/people who are not even on the aircraft with us and had no problem endangering all of our lives. Our pleas for help fell on deaf ears. It is a very good thing it was a "Red-Eye" flight. People had no idea what was going on as most everyone was asleep. Had it been another time of the day; there would have been chaos and panic. Upon descent; F/A 2; mentioned she had smelled a foul odor in the back of the aircraft. She said she had smelled it the entire flight long; but she had thought someone was passing gas. I went back and smelled the odor; which was the "dirty sock" smell. F/A 3; also went back and confirmed it was the dirty sock smell; which had been present in the back galley the entire flight long. It is imperative that we; as flight attendants; have a voice that is heard and taken seriously with action when we are saying things are not safe; especially with such serious conditions. These are the types of situations that have ended very badly in the past; with no CRM and a nonchalant attitude with those in authority and in the decision making process. This was a [priority handling] and in such serious situations the flight crew should not have to ask for permission from someone who is not on the plane with their own life at stake; whether they can land or not. That decision should lie solely on the crew as it is only the crew who has a true understanding of what the situation is onboard the aircraft and it is their very own lives on the line. The lack of knowledge or care by the maintenance staff has been alarming lately; whether in base or contract maintenance at the outstations. In recent months things have not been fixed; but the problem re-occurs inflight as though nothing was fixed; but just signed off as to hurriedly get the plane out. It is my plea and hope that these matters and warnings will be addressed and resolved speedily and thoroughly before something catastrophic happens."
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.